§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much economic aid has been given to Russia in the last three years; and in what programmes her Department is involved in that country. [9027]
§ Clare ShortIn 1999 the international community provided $1.816 billion in net official assistance to Russia. This year, my Department plans to provide approximately £40 million, of which £26 million will be through our direct programme and most of the balance through the EC. The purpose of DFID assistance to Russia is to support the Government's economic and social modernisation programme in order to reduce poverty, as set out in our country Strategy Paper 2001–05 a copy of which is available in the Library. Current priorities include support to WTO accession, public administration reform and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.